Tractor system for motor-vehicles.



A. H. HOADLEY. TRACTOR SYSTEM P011 MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED FIJILM, 1913.

Patented Deo. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

LSOAY..

A. H. HOADLEY. TRACTOR. SYSTEM POR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED I'BB.14,1913.

Patented Dec. 2, 19131 3 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

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A. H. HOADLBY. TRACTOR SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION .FILED TEMI/1,1913.

Patented Deo. 2, 1913.

honorer.

:in :iiieoion of Lettera i ont. ilzronicil Mee. 2, 'E Qlll.

Application filed February lo. 19H1, Serial No. 746.3%.

To all whom may concern:

Be it. known that l, .inviano ll. l-loinnni', :i citizen oif ihe liniicii finden. foul resilient. of the ciny oi irovirlcnrn.. 'in ihn roomy' oiA Providence anni 'zitate oi 'hoiln lshinii., him.' invented certain new :und iihci'ol lnijirrww mente in Treeior Systems ,for hlohirfvw r hielen, of which the followingl is ii spelixiiicrv tion.

' This invention rclnies to driving mechanism for motor vehicles, unil han: `for its object to 'provide simple, prmirnl und ci"- fective ineens for 'grfmpino' und, cnrrying all of the driving mechanism upon the forwerrl axle, whereby the forwurfl portion of the vehicle may he cniirely imiepcnllcnl' of the rear portions thereof :nifl flchuzhohly connected thereto ii desired.

A 'further object is 'to produce improved results in pivoi'ally mounting; rho loru'nrii traction wheels upon opposite ends; oi n rch 'tively Stationeryexie whereby noch wheel is driven direct h an inr'lepencleni. electric mo-` tor` mounted n 'ju/cent. thereto, which system eifecinnlly eiii'oinetos ihn nonni trainiiinisoiorand diiierentinl gearing und the consequent lose of power incirlen. thereto.

A further object. is to curry im electric generator for producing the current for driving these wheel actuar-ing; motors; unifi also to provide en internal combustion engine for drivin? the-generator. or in some cases n storage. he a means for driving the who... motors direct if desir-Od.

A still further object of/(ho invention is', pivotnlly mount u steering knuckle on rewriting Veither end of `ehe .front axle of the vehicle and to mount `:i traction wheel on one side and an electric motor on `the opposite side oi the pivohnff` axis of each knuckle `Vwhereby the two willaswing in unison in steering and to provide e pinion et each emi' of the nio tor to mesh with ond drive the gear on the adjacent; traction Wheel, ondu' still further ob3ect of the invention is to provide improved means ior protecting the driving,y

.gears from ille notion of foreign metter.

l am aware thiii Steering Wheels driven hy electric motors suspended upon ihe pivolcd steering'm'emloers and' Swinging in unisson therewithI have been revealed :rml nocd heretofore. y invention therefore (locs not consistr of this combination oi elements,

I515 broadly?,` but of @his combination together ttery muy he employed as,

"virili: hosc :nul other ohh-cis iu View, the

inw'oiion cons-:imo of ecrtrzin novel eniures oi'` connruction nf; will he more fully described enel pnrtirnhirly pointed out in the appended claims.

0i' the accompanying drawings: Figure lin n, phen view Showing the arrangemcni. of the electric driving motors each niouulerl :nljncent its traction Wheel to swing with it. liig. 2- :i side elevation, partly in section, :showing lhe general arrangement of the power plant anni driving rnechunism. Fig'. 3W is n front elevation of the front eine poi-ily in section, showing the relative position o? the electric motors cnil the truciion wheeh: they drivew Fig. iw is en enharggeal pien view showing one end of n motor wiih the casing partly broken :muy also Showing; theconnection of its pinion to the Sohn-nel gen1 on the traction wheel and the inet tight'. geen casing in section. lFig. 5 in im end view of the motor showing one portion oi. the dust tight gear casing us supported from the 'uotor casino. Fig. 6- is n. diugrninimitie'view illustrating a storage y hniltcry :is providing the necessary power with which to drive the moiors.

Allei'rrrng to the drawings 10 designates the iorwnrrl axle of my improved motor vehicic which may he consi/rooted in any suit-- :ihle forni hntithe :mme ieshovm' as having :in upper cross; bnr l1 :1nd e lower cross brrr i2, the two being supported at n iven distence from noch other by means o' the spacing members 13 to which they are bolted thereby necurcly und rigidly connecting them together. In either en'ci of this relatively fixed axle is mounted n steering knuckle 14 each of which is ro'vided with n laterally extending stub ux e 15 on which the wheel i 16 turns. The knuckle is uien provided with a vertical portion 17 having n. shorty trunnion 18 journaled in the upper bur of the exle und oleo n. similnr trunmon 19 journaled in the lower axle har. Tl'iisknuckle, member is arranged to also he connected eitherhy casting, holting 0r otherwise to the casino 2() of the electric motor, thus the wheel, stiih iixle, knuckle niemher und motor .form a single ohci-inning unit which `.vill swing together ne one on the pivoting,r axis of the knuckle in steering this vehicle. ln orilcr to operatively connect the motor to the traction wheel 1G is provided for each wheel. Mounted on an internal gear 2l is provided having an outwardly extending ilange 22 to which the threaded ends Q3 of straps 24 are connected 1 which engage the spokes 25 of the wheel and i t electric generator 3T for supplying the cursecurely bind the gear in position thereto.

feature of this invention is that the motor is provided ateach end with a pair ol bevel gears it, as illustrated at Fig. 4, which ai'e employed to drive the pinioiis 2l and "lo through jack shafts 2t) and 30"*set at right angles to the axis of the niotor armature slial't,'both of ythese piuions engage the teeth of the internal gear 2l and a-L upon the saine to drive the wheel. As the result. of the necessary speed ratios between the electric motor and the vehicle driving wheel, the driving pinions are necessarily ot' relatively small diameter and hence in some cases the small number ot working teeth in a single pinion are insutlicient to transmit the necessary power to drive the vehicle. Therefore by means of my double ended motor drive arrangement employing two pinions, double the number of teeth of a given pitch are in contact at the saine time and hence the ell'ective strength isidoubled. Then again by applying the driving force at two distinct points on the wheel the strains on the structure are more nearly equalizcd.

providing a more flexible drive and contribA uting valuable qualities to the practical operation o't' the vehicle. When both ot these motors are venergized the power is transmitted directly to both wheels to drive each indepeinlently. In order to keep the teeth oi the internal gear and those ot the en gaging pinions lubricated a dust proof gear casing has been provided consisting otI two portions, one portion 30 being.; connected to and carried the wheel while the othei' portion 3l, which is formed in substantially a circular 'trough-shape, is supported from the motor casing),r by means ot studs 3'.) and springs 5() in the manner best illustrateddn Fig. 5. The portion 30 revolves with the wheel while the portion 3l is supported on the pinion shalt 29 and therefore remains stationary with reference to the portion 30. ,lo avoid friction between the two portions they are made with a slight clearance and portion 3l is supported by the pinion shafts and the Studs 252 in a iion-eonttu'ting relation to portion 30. 'lhe interior of the gear casing thus formed is filled with some semisolid lubricant which seals the joint between the )arts against entrance of grit or other foreign matter from the road, and the gear ingis thus effectively protected from undue wear. The springs 50 which 'are provided on the studs 32 permit. the portion 31 of the casing to have some independent late al niotion which is transmitted to it by the vibration of the adjacent traction Wheel. A du plicate set of the above described mechanism I this forward axle are the springs 33 and 34 This A which support the framework 35. trame is'illustrated as carrying an internal combustion engine 3G arranged to drive an rent necessary for running the electric mo- The framework 35 is l shown as extending back and then turned downward as at hll to connect to the body of the vehicle botany style or arrange-V ment ot' trame may be employed. It may he so constructed as to be independently built and detachably connected to any vehicle body if desired. ln some cases it may be connected to and employed in drawing tire apparatus or it may be employed for any' service it is adapted to perform. The pres! ent arrangement illustrates a seat 43 for the operator and a steeringr wheel 44 by which lie may swing the forward driven Wheels 1.6-16 on their steering knuckles to'steer' the vehicle, through the medium oi-linkf and tie rod 46 which are' pivotally Vconnected at 4l and t8 to the motor casing, See n Fig. It. The amountof current passing from the generator to the motors may be nicely controlled b v a movement of the controller bar 4t) wherebv the torque of the motors may be varied to accommodate the loadand the. speed required.'

l do not' wish to be restricted to the use of 'an internal coinlaistion engine for operating a. generator to produce the current necessary t'or driving these motors, as Aa storage battei-y or fany other 'means for sul'iplying this current to the motors may he employed and will 'lall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

l claim: f

l. tractor system for motor vehicle compris-ine' a relatively stationary axle` a traction wheel pivotally journaled at ea'cli end of said axle, an electric motor p oitttively con nected and adapted to swing with each of said wheels` each motor having its axis set at substantially a right; angle to that of'lits wheel axle and ottsety to one side ot' thoren-4 tral plane ot rotatioir of4 it's wheel, and means carried by the vehicle `ttor supplying operating energy to said motors.

Q. ln a motor vehicle, a relatively sta esl loo

izo

tiona'rv axle a steerinf.1r knuckle )ivotallv manteca eratively connecting each motor to its w eel, and means carried by the vehicle for supplying energy to each motor to rotate its Wheel and propel the vehicle.

3. -In a motor'vehicle, a relatively sta tionary axle, a steerin knuckle 'pivotally 'mounted at each end o? and a traction wheel both mounted each4 knuckle and on opposite sides of `the pivoting point, the axis of eaid motor being euhstantially at a rightf'angle to that of tlie wheel axle and offset to one side of the cential' plane of rotationr otite wheel, means for operatively connectingeach motor to its whee, and means carried by the vehicle for supplying energy to each motor to rotate its wheel and propel the vehicle.

4. In a motor-vehicle, an axle, a .steering knuckle pivotally mounted at each end of said axle, a motor and a traction wheel both mounted on each knuckle, the axis ot"v said motor being ect to one side of the central plane of rotation of its wheel, a gear coanected to the wheel, a pinion driven from eacliend of said motor and engao'ing its gear, and means carriedhy the 'vehicle for eupplying energy to each motor to rotate ylts wheel and propel the vehicle.

5. In a motor vehicle, an axle, a steering lmuckle'pivotally mounted at each end ot' said axle, an electric motor and a traction Wheel mounted on each knuckle, the axie` of said motor being substantially at a righty angle to `that of the wheel axle and otfect to one side of the central plane ot rotation of its wheel, a gear connected to the wheel, a pinion driven from each end oi' said motor and engagingr its gear, a dust prooi casing inclosing Said gears and means for supplying energy to said motors to rotate its wheel and propel the vehicle.

46. In a motor vehicle, a relatively stationary axle, a steering knuckle pivotally mounted at each end of said axle, an electric motor and a traction Wheel mounted on cach knuckle, an internal gear attached to the Spokes of the wheel, a pinion driven 'Iroin each end of slaid motor and engaging ,waid gear, a dust proof casing int-,toxine ysaid gears one portion being carried hy the wht-,cl and the other hy the motor casing, an elet tric generator Carried by the vehicle lor supplying energy to said motorsl to rotatc its wheel and propel the vehicle, and means Ytor driving said generator.

7. A motor vehiclc comprifiiiugr a rclatively stationary axle, traction wheels pivotally journalcd upon opposite ends ot said axle, an clcctric motor mounted adjacent' each wheel, a ,gear connected to the wheel, a pinion driven from each end of said motor and engaging said gear, thc axes of the pinions being at right angles to the axis of the motor arn'iature shaft and parallel with the axis of the wheel gear, and means carn said axle, a motor l'iet'l hy the vehicle it'or supplying energy to said motor to rotate this wheel and propel the vehicle.

t5. A tractor system for motor vehicles comprising a main axle7 a steering' knuckle, a traction whcci and an clcctric motor mounted at either end oteaid axle upon each of said luiuckles, the` a.\'i.-I ot cach motor heilig' offset toward thc inner nido of .the wheel from the central plane ot' rota tion thereof, two distinct sets ot' gearing' one at either end ol' each motor connecting Said motors to their respectivtl whcclvi, and ulcanfl 'tor .Supplying oi'icratingg cncrggy to said motora.

t). .k tractor System for motor vehicle# comprising a main axle, a .stirring` lcnucldc pivotally mountcd on said axle. a traction wheel and an electric motor carried hy and mounted upon oppo itc :vidczi ot" the pivotin; r point ol' euch oil eaid knuckles, two distinct setev of gearing; one at cithcr end olf cach motor connecting: said ntotoiw to their rc- -spcctive whccls. and means t'or supplying' operating,r cncrnv to .eaid motora.

lt). tractor aystcm tor motor vchiclcs comprising; a main axlc. a atccrinp; knuckle mounted at cithcr cnd ol' ysaid axlc, a traction whccl and an clcctric motor mounted upon cach ot said knncli'lcs. a fear 'iixod to cach wlwcl. a pinion driven from cach end ol each motor and engaging' its whccl `L'car, thc axisi ol said pinions heilig' set at right arag'lcs to that ol' it motor. and moans for Isupplying' operating' energy to said motors.

ll. A tractor systcm lor vchiclex comprisingr a main axle, sitccring knuckles.l pivotally mcnntcdatoppmitecnds otaaidaxlc,a traction wheel and an clcctric motor carried hy and locatcd on oppositev Ieidcs ot thc pivot ing point, ot said knuckles, each wheel having' a Acar tixcd thcroto and cach motor having a pinion driven 'l'rom each end thcrcf ot and having; itsI axir. act at a right. angle to that ot it` motor and engaging its; ,fr ir, a dn t prooll casing; inclosiup; .said ,Qca o, one portion ot .Liaid casing' hcing carried hy thc whccl and anothcr portion lit-in;4 yiclding'ly ;-,uppo|'tcd on thc motor casing', and means t'or lwupplyingr operating` energy to said Int-ton: to drive the vehicle.

1Q. tractor systcm for vehicles compris;- ing a luain axle. steering knncklcspivotally n-.ountcd at oppnsitc ends ot said axle, a traction whccl and an electric motor carried hy and located on oppositie sides o't the pivoting;l point ot said knuckles, each wheel havingr,r a gear fixed thcrcto and cach motor having a pinion driven trom fach end thereof and having its` axis sot at substantially a right angle to that of its motor and engaging its gear, and lucanaI l'or supplying op- @rating energy to Said motors to drive the vehicle.

f3. imm( :sysiem For vehicles compris that of it@ moto? an@ engaging gsal, and mg n umm :13:10. simu-ing knuckles pD-'Otnly nmans for slqvpljv'mg; opemmg energy to mmmiod ut opprsltu @nds of smd axle a sind moigorz; go d'w'f@ the vhmie, 

